RAK Half is Key Tune-Up for Elite Spring Marathoners

Feb. 15 race in United Arab Emirates is site of women's half-marathon world record.

Geoffrey Mutai, whose 2:03:02 from the tailwind-assisted 2011 Boston is the fastest marathon in history, and 2012 Olympic silver medalist Priscah Jeptoo (seen above) headline the RAK Half Marathon as part of their preparation for April’s London Marathon. Scheduled for February 15 in the United Arab Emirates, the race is almost always exceptionally fast. Mary Keitany set the women’s world record of 1:05:50 at RAK in 2011. Many of the elites will use the race as a key part of their preparation for a spring marathon.

Mutai, who won the race in 2010, is one of ten men in this year’s RAK field with a sub-60:00 half-marathon best. The fastest half-marathoners in the field are Stephen Kibet (58:54) and Ezekiel Chebii (59:05). The race also includes Feyisa Lelisa, the 2012 Chicago Marathon runner-up and winner of the 2012 and 2013 Houston Half Marathons; 2012 Paris Marathon champ Stanley Biwott; 2011 London Marathon winner Emmanuel Mutai; 2008 Olympic 10,000-meter bronze medalist Micah Kogo; 2012 Berlin Half Marathon winner Pius Maio Kirop; and 2011 world junior cross country champion Geoffrey Kipsang.

Florence Kiplagat, the 2011 Berlin marathon champ, has the fastest half-marathon time among the RAK women; she’s run 1:06:38. Lucy Kabuu is next with a 1:07:04 best. Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey, the 2008 Olympic 5000- and 10,000-meter silver medalist, is returning to the race she won in 2010 in 1:07:07. Two 2012 marathon champions, Sharon Cherop (Boston) and Meselech Melkamu (Frankfurt), are also in the field.